Microsoft shows in-depth Halo 4 trailer at E3

In addition to showing off Xbox SmartGlass, a music service and additional content providers, Microsoft revealed more information about Halo 4 during their keynote at E3. The event opened with an in-depth demo that included a trailer and gameplay footage from the first non-Bungie developed Halo game.

The events in Halo 4 take place in the aftermath of what happened in Halo 3. As PCMag describes, the gameplay footage shows Master Chief as he is navigating through a jungle scene on the way to ground zero of a crashed ship. Covenant forces attempt to attack Master Chief but they are vaporized from another source in the process. We are told that these forces are definitely not Covenant and aren’t part of the Flood.

The video ends with Master Chief being attacked by multiple enemies as the tag line “An Ancient Evil Awakens” is flashed across the screen. The publication points out that Halo 4 will likely focus on artificial intelligence from the Forerunners, the creators and builders of the Halo Array.

Halo 4 will serve as the starting point for a whole new trilogy in the franchise, a move that seems fitting considering Microsoft’s own 343 Industries developed the title. Bungie officially split from Microsoft in 2007 but agreed to release two more Halo games, Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach. Those requirements have been met, leaving 343 with the Halo series while Bungie signed a 10-year deal with Activision in April 2010.

The game will be released on November 6, 2012 as an Xbox exclusive. Preorders are being accepted now through multiple retail outlets including Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop and the Microsoft Store starting at $59.00.